À cause de and grâce à are easy to get mixed up. This is because, depending on the context, both phrases can be translated as “because of” in English.
However, while both phrases link a cause to a consequence, they paint distinct pictures of the outcome!
We’re going to explore the subtleties of these phrases, unravelling the positive and negative nuances they bring to expressions in French.
The Coffee Break French Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations, in which we demystify tricky French language topics. In the latest episode, Mark and Max look into when and how to use à cause de and grâce à.
Continue reading to find out more and why not listen to the podcast episode as you go?
‘à cause de’ for negative outcomes
À cause de conveys negativity in French expressions. It translates to “because of” in English, but is exclusively reserved for situations with negative consequences. For example:
J’ai perdu une heure à cause de tes mauvais conseils.
I lost an hour because of your bad advice.
It’s a phrase that signals setbacks – attributing an undesirable result to a specific cause.
Note that à cause de ends with the preposition de. This de points to the origin or source of the negative consequence.
As always happens with the preposition de, it connects and merges with some articles. When we have de + le, it becomes du, and de + les becomes des. When preceding a vowel, de transforms into d’ for smoother pronunciation.
‘grâce à’ for positive outcomes
On the other hand, grâce à radiates positivity – signifying a favourable outcome due to a particular cause. For example:
Grâce à ton aide, j’ai réussi à monter ce meuble.
Thanks to your help, I managed to assemble this piece of furniture.
It’s a phrase that highlights the contribution of a positive factor leading to a successful or beneficial result.
Since grâce à ends with the preposition à, it also undergoes transformations. For example, à + le becomes au, and à + les transforms into aux.
Let’s practise!
Here are some sentences in English. Your challenge is to translate them into French, choosing between grâce à and à cause de. The answers are at the end of this article.
- It is because of the wind.
- It is thanks to them.
- We lost because of one mistake.
- I learned Spanish thanks to Coffee Break podcasts.
- You passed your exams because of me.
- I couldn’t travel because of the strikes.
- It is thanks to your brother that I know which gift to buy you for Christmas.
We hope that you found this post interesting. These two expressions will not only help you understand situations better, but if you can use them in your conversations you will articulate yourself more clearly.
Make sure to listen to the full episode with Mark and Max on The Coffee Break French Show. This is the series in which we look at a range of topics for French learners, so make sure to subscribe to our podcast feed and our channel on YouTube.
Plus! To get regular free French lessons in your inbox, you can sign up for our short (coffee-break-sized) email lessons that will help you improve your French. You will also hear from Mark, the founder of Coffee Break Languages, giving advice for language learners at any level. Sign up below!
Happy Coffee Breaking!
PS. Here are the answers to the challenge:
- It is because of the wind. – C’est à cause du vent.
- It is thanks to them. – C’est grâce à eux / elles.
- We lost because of one mistake. – Nous avons / On a perdu à cause d’une erreur.
- I learned Spanish thanks to Coffee Break podcasts. – J’ai appris l’espagnol grâce aux podcasts Coffee Break.
- You passed your exams because of me. – Tu as réussi tes examens grâce à moi.
- I couldn’t travel because of the strikes. – Je n’ai pas pu voyager à cause des grèves.
- It is thanks to your brother that I know which gift to buy you for Christmas. – C’est grâce à ton frère que je sais quel cadeau t’acheter pour Noël.
